Dive Zone Whitianga - Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
The team at Dive Zone Whitianga are just the kind of people you want looking after you in the water. We’ve always found them helpful, relaxed, and genuinely enthusiastic about showing you around their patch of the Hauraki Gulf. They run a slick operation, specialising in getting divers out to the Mercury Islands and the Aldermen Islands, both a bit of a boat ride, but absolutely worth the trip. If you’re serious about diving the Coromandel, this is your outfit. We love their commitment to small groups; it always feels like a private charter rather than a cattle call. Conditions out here can vary, so having experienced skippers and dive guides who know the currents and the best spots to duck into makes a huge difference. On a good day, the visibility around the Aldermans can stretch to 20 metres, revealing schooling snapper, kingfish, and those fascinating moray eels tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for the shy eagle rays too. We’d suggest ringing ahead to chat about conditions if you’re planning a trip around the shoulder seasons; it’s always better to time your visit for clearer, calmer days.
- Location
- Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, Australasia
- Coordinates
- -36.833300, 175.700000
- Phone
- +64 7 867 1580
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.divezonewhitianga.co.nz
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI 5 Star CDC [padi:36025]
- Address
- 10 Campbell St, Whitianga 3510, New Zealand
Dive Sites Near Dive Zone Whitianga
Dive Zone Whitianga provides access to 15 dive sites in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf.
- 4 mile reef (reef)
- 4 mile reef (reef)
- Acacia Bay (reef)
- Acacia Bay (reef)
- Aldermens- Bishops Hat (cave)
- Aldermens- Bishops Hat (reef)
- Aldermens- Fish Factory (wall)
- Aldermens- Fish Factory (pinnacle)
- Aldermens- HoneyComb (cave)
- Aldermens- HoneyComb (reef)
- Aldermens-Middle Middle (reef)
- Aldermens-Middle Middle (wreck)
- Aldermens- Mooring Bay (wall)
- Aldermens- Mooring Bay (reef)
- Anemone Boulders (reef)
Other Dive Centres in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
- Cathedral Cove Dive Ltd - ["PADI"]
- Dive Doctor
- Dive HQ Auckland - ["PADI"]
- Dive Tatapouri
- Dive Zone Tauranga - ["PADI"]
- Epic SCUBA - SSI
- GET WET WAIKATO
- GlobalDive
- MUSA DIVING
- Performance Diver NZ Ltd - SSI
Best Time to Dive in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
The warmest water temperatures in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf occur in February, averaging 22.4°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 14.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 21.4°C
- February: 22.4°C
- March: 21.8°C
- April: 19.8°C
- May: 17.4°C
- June: 15.3°C
- July: 14.1°C
- August: 14.1°C
- September: 14.7°C
- October: 16.3°C
- November: 18.5°C
- December: 20.3°C
Marine Life in Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
Home to 77 recorded species including 43 reef fish, 11 sharks & rays, 3 whales & dolphins, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 other, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Marine Life
- Snapper (Pagrus auratus) - Reef Fish
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- European fan-worm (Sabella spallanzanii) - Worms
- Asian paddle crab (Charybdis (Charybdis) japonica) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Red Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) - Sharks & Rays
- Bluefin Gurnard (Chelidonichthys kumu) - Reef Fish
- Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus) - Sharks & Rays
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- California Yellowtail (Seriola lalandi) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Goat Island & Hauraki Gulf
Based on average water temperature of 18.0°C, currents 2 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories